Washing machine



Patented ld'eh. 19,

WASHENG MCHENE.

Application filed February 7, 1923. Serial No. 617,502.

To @ZZ fic/7mm 'it may concern:

Be it lrnown that l, HOWARD VnnBURToN, acitizen ofthe United States,residing at Hamilton, in the Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada,have invented certain new and useful improvements in lashing llachines,of which the following isa speciiication.

The present invention relates to washing machines having a revolvingcylinder mounted in a tub or casing.

Tie main object of the invention is to furnish a cylinder of thischaracter, which has its interior constructed in a peculiar manner inorder to produce better work than inordinary machines of this class in ashorter time. For this purpose the cylinder has corrugated inner'surface and radial partitions in tle form of pockets. The function ofthe cylinder is now to force the clothes to be washed through the waterby means of these pockets at the same time rubbing them against thecorrugations furnished around the circumference of the cylinder as wellas on these radial partitions. The clothing is alternately forced into'the water and lifted out of the same in this manner imitating theoperation of washing clothes by hand but without tearing or iujuring thesame.

ln the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention isillustrated; and

Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of the washing machine;

Figure 2 is a transverse section along line 2--2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a transverse section of the cover for the revolvingcylinder.

The washing machine consists of the tub or casing 10 of cylindrical orsemi-cylindrical shape deposited with its anis in horizontal directionin the usual manner and being Vclosed at each end by flat boards or sideVplates 11. The open top of the casing is closed by means of a lid 12preferably hinged alone one edge of the casing as at 9. This opening atthe top of the casing is naturally large enough to permit the insertionor removal of the revolving drum 13. The casing is supported in theusual manner on a stand 1d forming a rigid construction therewith, Theend plates 11 of the casing each have a centrally located bearing 15 forthe shaft 16 revolvably mounted therein and one end of the shaft isflattened or of square cross section adapted to receive a crank orhandle 16, if hand power is used to revolve the drum, or a pulley orgear wheel 36in case motive power is used, an electric motor forinstance.

The cylinderor drum 13 consists of two flat end plates or boards 19which are rigidly connectedwith the shaft 16 so as to par* take of itsrotation. These end plates 19 are circular with the exception of asegment cut off 'at one side, and the cover 2i) has similar side plates21 with the exact size and shape Vof the cut away segments of the sideplates 19 so that the latter and the end plates of the cover togetherform complete circular disks when assembled.

r The two end plates 19 of the drum are connected by means of aplurality of rods or ribs 22, which are spaced from each other to `formlongitudinal openings at intervals along the cylindrical side of thedrum. These rods 22 are preferably made of cylindrical bars split in twoalong their axes and placed with their thus attened sides even with theouter periphery of the disks or end plates 19. The rounded portion ofthe rods 22 are all facing inwards in the cylinder, so that in thismanner a corrugated inner surface is formed in the cylinder withalternating or interrupting spaces 2B, as best seen in Figure V2.

rl`he cover is similarly provided with rods or ribs 24 fastened alongthe outer periphery of the end plates 21, as seen in figure 3.

To the inside of each of the disks or end plates 19 of the drum andsymmetrically on the center line running perpendicularly .io thestraight segmental edge 25 thereof, is rigidly secured a wedge 26, seeFigures 1 and 2. The blunt edge of the wedge coincides with the outerperiphery of the corresponding disk 19, while its apex extends beyondthe longitudinal axis of the shaft 16 in the drum 13. Against thestraight sides of the wedges 26 and connecting the two disks 19 aresecured ribs or rods 27 of the same character as the ribs or rods 22 and24 and these ribs 27 are spaced apart substantially the same distance asthe previously described ribs.

The cover 2O is also provided with a pair of wedges 28 rigidly securedcentrally on the end plates 21, as seen in Figures 2 and 3, and adaptedto engage, by means of notches 29 furnished at the apices of the wedges28,

the sharp apices 30 of the opposing wedges 26. These notches 29 arepreferably formed in metal shoes 32 secured at the apex of each wedge28. The sides of these wedges 28 are also furnished with ribs 31 of thesame cross section as the already described ribs 2 2, 24 and 27, andspaced substantially the same distance apart as the former ribs. Thecover 20 is held in position on the drum 13 by means of swiveled clamps32.

It will now be evident that, when the cover 20 is secured to the drum 13by means of the clamps 32, there are formed two compartments A and B,one on each side of the opposing wedges 26 and 28 and their ribs 27 and31. As, however, these ribs as well as the peripheral ribs 22 and 24Care spaced apart, the water in the casing lO has free access to bothcompartments. During the operation of the washing machine the clothes tobe washed are deposited in these two compartments A and B and the lidattached. It will now be evident that during the revolution of the shaft16, together with the drum 13, the clothes will be alternately dippedinto the water and carried up out of same by means of the central ribsattached to wedges 26 and 28, and gently rubbed against the corrugatedsurface formed by these ribs as well as the peripheral ones. ln thismanner a thorough rubbing and cleaning of the clothes is performed,imitating the rubbing of clothes on a corrugated wash board and thedipping of them in water and subsequent wringing of them.

At the lowermost part of the casing 10 is formed a pocket 33 intended tocollect the sediment from the water, and a drain cock 34 is provided inthis pocket for emptying the water contained therein after each washmfr.

t:t is evident that the cross section of the ribs does not necessarilyneed to be semi-circular but may be semi-elliptical or even flat sidedas long as a corrugated surface is provided in the drum.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. A washing machine comprising a casing, a revolvable shaft mounted insaid casing, a drum rigidly secured on said shaft and having a pluralityof longitudinal ribs extending from end to end thereof, said ribs beingspaced apart and having their inward turned sides of convex formationproviding a corrugated peripheral surface in the drum, and otherlongitudinal ribs of similar formation in said drum arranged alongsubstantially diametrical planes therein and having their convexsurfaces facing the convex surfaces of said first ribs, said diametricalplanes intersecting each other and said drum being divided into twomating segmental'parts, the smaller of which forms a cover for the drum,and opposing wedge shaped supporting members or said other ribs securedrespectively in said mating segmental parts of the drum.

2. A washing machine comprising a casing, a revolvable shaft mounted insaid casing, a drum rigidly secured on said shaft and having a pluralityof longitudinal ribs extending` from end to end thereof, said ribs beingspaced apart and having their inward turned sides of convex formationproviding a corrugated peripheral surface in the drum, and otherlongitudinal ribs of similar formation in said drum arranged alongsubstantially diametrical planes therein and having their convexsurfaces facing the convex surfaces of said first ribs, said diametricalplanes intersecting each other, and Said drum being divided into twoVmating segmental parts, the smaller of which forms a cover for the drum,and wedge shaped supporting members for said other ribs, two of saidsupporting members being secured in the drum portion and the othermembers being secured in said cover portion.

3. A washing machine comprising a casing, a revolvable shaft mounted insaid casing, a drum rigidly secured on said shaft and having a pluralityof longitudinal ribs extending from end to end thereof, said ribs beingspaced apart and having their inward turned sides of convex formationproviding a corrugated peripheral surface in the drum, and otherlongitudinal ribs of similar formation in said drum arranged alongsubstantially diametrical planes therein and having their convexsurfaces facing the convex surfaces of said first ribs, said diametricalplanes intersecting each other, and said drum being divided into twomating segmental parts, the smaller of which forms a coverfor the drum,and wedge shaped supporting members for said other ribs, two of saidsupporting members being secured in the drum portion, the otherrmembersbeing secured in said cover portion, and interengaging elements at theadjacent points of said members.

In testimony whereof I aHix my signature. HOWARD l/VARBURTON. [n s]

